We don’t need AI videos of fake animals. There are real ones out there and they’re really cute | Rebecca Shaw
TL;DR
Rebecca Shaw uses AI animal videos in the Guardian as a hook for a broader critique of generative AI, focusing on environmental costs, water-hungry data centres and a culture that outsources thinking and making to machines. The piece is explicitly commentary, not a new study. Shaw argues that even harmless-looking uses such as AI clips or novelty images become problematic when they normalize waste and synthetic media everywhere.
Nauti's Take
The strongest part is not the technical critique, but the cultural one: generative AI does not only create more fake content, it makes real content harder to enjoy. That is an undercounted side effect.
The piece is deliberately sharp, and not every AI use is a betrayal of human creativity. But for synthetic filler made to harvest a few seconds of scrolling delight, it is fair to ask whether the benefit justifies the residue it leaves behind.
Briefingshow
The piece matters because it starts with a tiny everyday experience rather than the usual deepfake, jobs or regulation frame: can the internet still be trusted? If generative AI makes even harmless entertainment feel suspect, the debate moves from capability to cultural wear. The cost is not just compute or water, but trust and attention.
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